Means for controlling relative



Patented Nov. 3, 1942 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING RELATIVE,

`HUll/liDI'IY IN4 TEXTILE: MLL SPIN- NING AND TWISTING .lohn Robert Potter, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Curtis Wayland Potter, Dushore, Pa.

Application August 30, 1941, Serial No. lilllilii 1 Claim.

This invention'relates generally to textile mill spinning and twisting, and more especially to a method of controlling the relative humidity at the immediate point or area where the twisting or spinning operation is being accomplished.

The spinning and twisting of yarns in textile mills is at present widely accomplished by types of machines known as ring spinning frames 'and ring twisters. In carrying out the spinning and twisting operations in these types of machines, the following process takes place:

Yarn is pulled through what are known as draft rolls in which the drawing takes place, (on the spinning frames) thence through guides and through the traveler and is finally wound on the spindle. The traveler is loosely attached to the ring which is securely attached to the ring rail, which ring rail moves slowly up and down so as to wind the yarn on the spindle. The spindle is driven by the cylinder and pulls the yarn through the traveler which travels around the ring, due to the centrifugal motion'of the yarn being imparted to it, the traveler speed being somewhat less than the spindle speed and imparting a twist to the yarn.

The number of spindles on any machine may vary from a few dozen to several hundred, but in general they are located in a straight line on two sides of the machine with a common ring rail on any particular side and on a level varying from two feet, six inches to three feet, six inches, approximately, above the ioor.

There is a variance in detail between dierent makes of these machines, but in general the design of the ring rails, rings, travelers, the relative location of ring rails and spindles, etc., remain substantially similar insofar as bearing on the purpose of our present invention.

In practice, the traveling of the traveler around the ring produces an objectionable amount of friction heat, varying in amount among spinning frames and twisters and in types of twist, but objectionable in a varying degree true in all cases. One objection is that this generated heat reduces, varies, and makes very difficult the proper control of the relative humidity of the air in and around the spindle area and the ballooning area of the yarn. In this connection, it may be stated that controlled relative humidity in the proper amount in the aforementioned area would be distinctly advantageous for the following reasons: First, It would make possible an increased spindle speed with consequent increased production per spindle. Second, It would make possible a better and more uniform quality of yarn, both as to texture and strength. Third, vIt makes' possible the use of a shorter staple and thus less eX- pensive raw material. Fourth, It helps to reduce the amount of breakage in the process of spinning and twisting.

The present methods of humidication in twisting and spinning rooms depend upon general humidification of the room area. Due to the have failed to eliminate this variation, nor provided accurate control.

It is also pointed out that the heat generated by the Vfriction of the traveler going around the ring, is such that at the higher spindle speeds of the newer type of machines, together with the increased -ring diameters, the travelers become destroyedy at a prohibitive rate if the machines are run at a speed of which they are otherwise capable. Y

The primary objects of our present invention are, first, to directly absorb the friction heat generated by the moving of the traveler around the ring, before it is transferred to the air in the immediate vicinity of where the yarn is ballooned out due to centrifugal force, and is receiving its twist, and second, to directly absorb the friction heat generated by the traveling of the traveler around the ring in order to reduce the heating of the traveler to a point below where it develops a temperature destructive of itself.

YIn the accompanying drawing, which isfor illustrative purposes only and is therefore not drawn to scale:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a spinning frame or twister spindle section, showing the ring, ring rail assembly, travelers and spindles, together with one form of our improved conduction for the cooling medium, shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken on line A-A of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating one fo-rm of cooling means.

Referring to the drawing for a more particular description of our invention, and in which drawing like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views, the numeral I represents the ring rail, 2 the spindle,

3 the ring, li the traveler, all of which parts are of any ordinary or approved construction used on certain ring spinning frames and ring twisters. The tube 5, which is soldered, brazed or welded to the flange of the ring rail, is one form of the means of conducting a, cooling medium so as to effect the new process hereinbefore mentioned. This tube may be as shown or may take the form of a hollow part of the ring and ring rail assembly, or it may be in t'he form of a jacket, or otherwise be a hollow part of what is to all intents and purposes the body of the ring and ring rail assembly. Figuresl and 4 show the counter-flow method of conduction of the cooling medium, desirable in some applications, so as to, in general, maintain the same temperature at any point on any controlled section of the ring and ring rail assembly.

The direct cooling may take the form of circulating a cooling medium, such as chilled water, brine, refrigerating gas, or other fluid, through ajacket which is attached to or is an integral part of the ring rail and ring assembly, or through tubes which are bonded to the ring rail, or through other passages attached to or integral with the ring and ring rail assembly,

Since the generated heat is conducted through ther ring and ring rail assembly, this heat can be absorbed in any amount desired by varying the temperature of or the rate of flow of, or both, of the cooling medium.

The temperature control can be accomplished by means of thermostats and humidostats located on or about the ring rail, working in a compensating manner so as to control an automatic valve or valves, in the cooling medium flow lines; or by means of varying the cooling by pressurestats, thermostats, flow devices, or any other devices which will serve to vary temperature and ow. The cooling medium may be conducted by means of individual supply and return lines to each machine or section of, or area of, each machine, such supply and return lines being supplied by common headers or by individual cooling lines or units in such a way that each Inachine, or section of, or area of, each machine may have individual control. It is important, for one reason, that this local control be effected, inasmuch as quite often different types and kinds of yarn are beingA Worked on adjacent machines in the same room area, t-hus making it dificult if not impossible, to maintain desired humidity conditions in the vicinity of individual ring rails by means of general humidication of the room, no matter how well controlled.

It is claimed that our improved process of oontrolled direct cooling of the ring and ring rail assembly, together with the traveler, with consequent controlled humidity in and about the vicinity of the twisting, and the ballooning area of the yarn, makes possible a better quality of product, and the use of less expensive raw material, and allows increased spindle speed and thus increased product output per spindle.

It is also claimed that this direct cooling makes possible a reduction in the breakage rate of the travelers, thus allowing increased spindle speed, and consequent increased product output.

It is further claimed that the directabsorption of heat of the air in the immediate vicinity of the cooled ring rail raises the relative humidity and makes possible relative humidity control above general room conditions in the immediate vicinity of the ballooning and twisting of the yarn.

It is still further claimed that through the use of our invention, it is not necessary in general to hold the entire room area at as high a relative humidity as at present, thus effecting more healthful and comfortable working conditions within the mills.

From the foregoing description taken in connecticn with the drawing, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood, without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principles or sacriiicing any of the advantages of our invention, as dened in the appended claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

JOHN ROBERT PO'I'IER. Y CURTIS WAYLAND POTTER. 

